The Artist's Date

The seashore, on Saturday, at the beginning of the snowstorm. I thought you'd like to see what it looks like now.

For my first Artist's Date, I visited the Bead Hive, a semi-local bead shop. In search of 6mm beads for the Undulating Waves scarf, with the Seashore yarn (notice a theme?), I was encouraged by a glowing recommendation from a friend at the LYS. The Bead Hive did not disappoint.

The shop primarily serves those who make jewelry, so many of the beads were simply too big or too tiny for knitting projects. But on one glorious wall, 6mm beads were available in every color and finish you could think of: crystal, metallic, matte, pearl, iridescent. The main colors of my yarn were a gray-blue, a tan, and a shell pink, so I tried different things to see what would work. None of the blues were really right, and you know I wanted the pink beads badly, but I tried to be open to whatever the best color for the yarn might be. I narrowed it down to a caramel and a depression-glass looking pink.

The salesperson was very helpful; when I asked her opinion, she seemed a little bewildered at first by the fact that I was going to knit the beads onto yarn (as opposed to wire or thread, I guess), but soon got into the spirit and found a pale matte pink bead that I hadn't considered. It picked up the soft pale colors of the sea, just like the ones in my blog banner, and instantly I knew it was the right one. Three packets later (the scarf requires 900ish beads!), I was headed home to take the sea photograph above, and settle in before the snowstorm. I can't wait to start knitting this.

The purpose of the Artist's Date, as I understand it, is to spend time alone (without a friend, significant other, co-worker, etc, to influence you) and do something silly (one date suggested in the book was to go to a craft store and buy gold stars and glitter!) or restful (taking a walk) or inspirational (a movie, a museum, a craft supply store, etc). The point is indulge your inner artist or creative person and be open to inspiration. I gather from reading the AW book that some people find it really difficult to do this, but my guess is that most knitters and readers are used to spending time alone, because it is the nature of those pursuits. For us, it is more about making the time, not about getting used to our own company.

The bead store didn't inspire a revolution in the way I knit or write or draw. I wasn't expecting that anyway. But looking at all those beautiful colors and seeing some beads made from art glass or real gemstones made me happy, in a way I wasn't when I entered the store. It reminded me where those colors are found in nature, and how some of them bring back a memory of a time or object that shares that color.

This is similar to what Michelle Rose Orne talks about in her book Inspired to Knit. She uses an inspiration board (Knitting Daily did a series on this), and I need to get mine set up too.  Perhaps as time goes on, and I continue to make space for these experiences, they will inspire a knitting project (whether I design the pattern or interpret one already in print), from a movie I have seen, a pattern in nature, or even a book I've read. They might help me to decide on a color to paint our hallway. They might cause me even to take out the sketchbook and pencils, something I have been yearning to do, and yet dread. I am so out of practice.

Even if you're not reading the AW, I hope you'll make some time for yourself this week to do something that speaks to your creative spirit. If you do, please comment here and tell me about it!

Comments

[Mrs SDC]

I'm first...?

The beads and yarn look great together and I can't wait to see the finished product.

I like the idea of an Artist's Date, but have no time right now. I can't wait until I do.

[Dotty]

I love the pink beads! I think they were the right choice. I must break out some of my beads and try knitting with them.

[Barbara-Kay]

First, great choice in beads!

Second, your story reminded me of my occasional forays to a bead store for knitting. The beads were lovely, but the clerks didn't have a clue, especially how many beads/gram.

Happy knitting!

[Karen]

Sounds like a really wonderful First Date. I love that the salesperson was able to show you some beads that work great and you hadn't considered. I can't wait to see the start of the scarf!

[Sara]

We have been doing the same thing - I was in the bead store on Saturday and got beads for two knitting projects. Hats - and only 150 beads per hat - no 900 and some!

How funny that we are knitting the same type project - I do love the color of your beads! They are perfect for that yarn.

[Chris]

I've never seen the seashore in this season! Thanks.

[audioknits]

The saleslady led you to the perfect beads for that yarn.

[tiennie]

I like the new look of your blog. It's so peaceful - especially with the pics of the the beach right now and the lovely yarn and beads.

[Sydney]

Those beads are perfect for the yarn. I don't think I would have thought of those either.

One of my favorite artist's dates is going to the dollar store and looking for silly stuff.

[Dorothy W.]

That sounds like a great day. My sister-in-law makes jewelry and runs her own business doing it, and I'm sure she'd love the bead store. The artist's date sounds like such a wonderful idea.

[Ahrisha]

Love your new look. and can't wait to see the beaded project. Haven't done the bead thing yet.

[Robin]

I love the photo of the seashore. Looking at the sea just puts me into a restful, peaceful mood. I think it's great that seeing the colors in the bead shop put you into a different frame of mind. I'm a big believer in managing our moods and trying to make ourselves happy if we get down or depressed.

[Mumsie]

Firstly, a very Happy Birthday to Chris. I love your new banner and find the yarn colors very peaceful. Look forward to seeing the finished product. Good luck with the beads, great match. I have not forgotten about Babci's soup tureen.

[Sonya]

Those beads are perfect! I'm looking forward to seeing it knit up. There's a bead store in the area that I occasionally wander into. The beads are amazing and a little overwhelming.